Tommy Kessler

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Growing up with a mother that was a classical pianist, Tommy Kessler was destined to play music… and the guitar was his instrument of choice. “Like so many other people, there was just something about the guitar. I can’t explain it in words, I guess you can say it just felt right from the beginning”. Tommy started by being trained in classical and Latin guitar. These styles provided a great understanding of music theory and also taught him to read standard notation. However, Tommy quickly drifted into the direction of the hard rock masters such as Randy Rhoads, Slash, Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen and Dimebag Darrell.

Tommy moved to New York City during 2005 and started doing studio work and answering Craigslist ads. His natural talent of learning pieces very quickly by sight reading or memorizing by ear helped him quickly excel in that scene. Tommy’s first steady gig in NYC was playing in the word-renowned Blue Man Group where he played Zither, Guitar, Bass and The Stick. “The Blue Man Group was a lot of fun and a very good experience for me to get involved in a players network in New York. But a very good opportunity came my way.” That opportunity was to join Rock of Ages before it was on Broadway. “I started in Rock of Ages when it was off Broadway; since the beginning. I believed in the show and I really liked that it was exposing me to some Rock music that was before my music-years. I guess everything happens for a reason. Playing eight shows a week in front of a packed house got me ready for the opportunity of a lifetime. That opportunity was brought to me by Matt Katz-Bohen”.

‘Matt told me Blondie needed a new guitar player and he threw my name in the hat. It was really surreal. I was very familiar with Blondie’s music and the idea of playing with Debbie, Chris and Clem was very exciting”. Tommy was asked to join Blondie in 2010 and hasn’t looked back since.

In 2015, Tommy was asked to be a part of the “Fresh Kids Of Bel-Air” and when Blondie isn’t on the road, you can find him playing every Friday at New York City’s Le Poison Rouge in the most epic 90’s show!